Electrical connector with card-ejecting device

ABSTRACT

An electrical connector includes a base plate with an accommodating groove, an integrated circuit board, and a card-ejecting device. The accommodating groove has an open front end and a closed rear end, and is adapted to receive a smart card therein. The smart card has a front end extending from the front end of the groove, and a rear end that is spaced apart from the rear end of the groove at a small distance. When the front end of the smart card is pressed inwardly to move the rear end of the smart card to the rear end of the groove, and is subsequently released, the card-ejecting device pushes the smart card outwardly relative to the connector. Accordingly, the smart card can be ejected with ease.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] This invention relates to an electrical connector for a smart card, more particularly to an electrical connector, which is provided with a card-ejecting device.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a conventional electrical connector 100 for a smart card 16 is shown to include an insulator body 11, a cover 13, and an integrated circuit board 15, which are rectangular. The insulator body 11 has two rectangular holes 111, within which a plurality of terminal pins 113 are disposed, a plurality of projecting posts 115, and a plurality of notches 117 that are formed in short sides of the insulator body 11. The cover plate 13 includes a plurality of holes 131 that are formed therethrough and that engage the posts 115 of the insulator body 11, and a plurality of projecting posts 133 that project integrally from the cover plate 13 and that extend through the notches 117 in the insulator body 11 to engage holes 153 in the integrated circuit board 15. The board 15 is formed with a plurality of small holes 151 for insertion of the pins 113 therein. A card-receiving space 14 (see FIG. 2) is formed between the cover plate 13 and the insulator body 11. When it is desired to remove the smart card 16 from the connector 100, an ejecting rod (not shown) is inserted into the space 14 so as to push the smart card 16 outwardly from the connector 100, thereby resulting in inconvenience to the user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] An object of this invention is to provide an electrical connector with a card-ejecting device, which can push a smart card outwardly relative to the connector when the card is pressed inwardly to move a small distance within the connector and is subsequently released.

[0006] According to this invention, an electrical connector includes a base plate with an accommodating groove, an integrated circuit board, and a card-ejecting device. The accommodating groove has an open front end and a closed rear end, and is adapted to receive a smart card therein. The smart card has a front end extending from the front end of the groove, and a rear end that is spaced apart from the rear end of the groove at a small distance. When the front end of the smart card is pressed inwardly to move the rear end of the smart card to the rear end of the groove, and is subsequently released, the card-ejecting device pushes the smart card outwardly relative to the connector. Accordingly, the smart card can be ejected with ease.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] These and other features and advantages of this invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of this invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0008]FIG. 1 is an exploded fragmentary perspective view of a conventional electrical connector for a smart card;

[0009]FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the conventional electrical connector shown in FIG. 1, illustrating how a smart card is inserted therein;

[0010]FIG. 3 is a partly exploded perspective view of the preferred embodiment of an electrical connector for a smart card according to this invention;

[0011]FIG. 4 is an assembled perspective view of the preferred embodiment;

[0012]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment, illustrating how the smart card is disposed at a retracted position, where the smart card is in electrical connection with a plurality of terminal pins of an integrated circuit board;

[0013]FIG. 6 is a schematic fragmentary view of the preferred embodiment, illustrating how the smart card is disposed at an extended position;

[0014]FIG. 7 is a schematic fragmentary view of the preferred embodiment, illustrating how a sliding tongue is moved in a guide slot when the smart card is pressed inwardly within an accommodating groove in order to move the smart card from the extended position to the retracted position;

[0015]FIG. 8 is a schematic fragmentary view of the preferred embodiment, illustrating where the tongue is located in the guide slot when the smart card is pressed inwardly to its rear limit position in order to move the smart card from the extended position to the retracted position;

[0016]FIG. 9 is a schematic fragmentary view of the preferred embodiment, illustrating how the tongue is biased, upon release of the smart card, by a coiled tension spring from the position shown in FIG. 8 to a curved middle portion of a generally V-shaped rear slot portion of the guide slot so as to retain the smart card at the retracted position;

[0017]FIG. 10 is a schematic fragmentary view of the preferred embodiment, illustrating where the tongue is located in the guide slot when the rear end of the smart card is moved to its rear limit position in order to move the smart card from the retracted position to the extended position;

[0018]FIG. 11 is a schematic fragmentary view of the preferred embodiment, illustrating how the tongue is biased, upon release of the smart card, from the position shown in FIG. 10 to a right slot portion of the guide slot; and

[0019]FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment, illustrating how the smart card is disposed at the extended position, where the smart card is disconnected electrically from the terminal pins of the integrated circuit board.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0020] Referring to FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, the preferred embodiment of an electrical connector according to this invention is shown to include an elongated base plate 3, an integrated circuit board 4, a card-ejecting device 5, and a cover plate 7. The electrical connector is adapted for insertion of a smart card 20 therein.

[0021] The base plate 3 has a first side surface 30, a front end 31, a left side (32L), a right side (32R), a rear end 33, a plurality of retaining holes 34, an accommodating groove 35, a plurality of integral projections 37, and two aligned integral limiting elements 38. The retaining holes 34 are formed along an outer periphery of the plate 3. The groove 35 is formed in the first side surface 30, and extends from the front end 31 of the plate 3 to the rear end 33 of the plate 3. The limiting elements 38 extend respectively from the left and right sides (32L, 32R) toward each other, and define an open front end (35F) of the groove 35 between the plate 3 and the limiting elements 38. The smart card 20 is disposed at a retracted position shown in FIGS. 5 and 9, where a front end 21 of the smart card 20 extends from the open front end (35F) of the groove 35 and where a space 39 is present between a rear end 22 of the smart card 20 and a closed rear end (35R) of the groove 35. As illustrated, the rear end 22 is spaced apart from the rear end (35R) at only a small distance. The plate 3 is generally rectangular, and has two long sides, two short sides, and a curved notch 115 formed in one of the short sides, thereby facilitating insertion of the smart card 20 into the groove 35. On two sides of the curved notch 315, two inclined guiding faces 313 are formed on the first side surface 30 of the plate 3, thereby further facilitating the insertion of the smart card 20 into the groove 35.

[0022] The integrated circuit board 4 includes a first side surface 41, and a second side surface 43 that is opposite to the first side surface 41 and that abuts against the first side surface 30 of the base plate 3. The base plate 3 and the board 4 are adapted to be disposed generally parallel to the smart card 20. The board 4 further includes a plurality of pin holes 451, 452, 453, a plurality of positioning holes 456, a plurality of positioning notches 457, and a plurality of terminal pins 47 that are fastened to the first side surface 41 and that are in electrical contact with a ribbon cable 48 for data transmission. The cable is attached to the board 4, and is in electrical connection with an electronic device (not shown), such as a mother board of a computer. The positioning holes and notches 456, 457 engage respectively the projections 37 of the base plate 3, thereby positioning the board 4 on the plate 3. The pins 47 extend through the pin holes 451, 452, 453, and project from the second side surface 43.

[0023] The card-ejecting device 5 includes a metal movable member 51, which is formed with an integral positioning element 511 that is shaped as a plate and that is parallel to the plate 3. The positioning element 511 is formed with a pressed abutment portion 513 that extends into the groove 35 and that is adapted to abut against the rear end 22 of the smart card 20. The movable member 51 is formed with an integral sliding element 512 which has an inverted L-shaped crosssection and which is disposed slidably within a slide slot 321 that is formed in the right side (32R) of the plate 3 and that extends along the length of the plate 3. As such, when the smart card 20 is pressed inwardly in the groove 35 in a longitudinal direction of the plate 3, the movable member 51 moves synchronously with the smart card 20. When the smart card 20 is located at the retracted position shown in FIGS. 5 and 9, the movable member 51 is disposed at a first position, where resilient contacts 471 of the pins 47 are in electrical connection with a conductive plate 201 of the smart card 20.

[0024] The cover plate 7 is made of a metal, and includes a front end 71, an opening 72, a rear end 73, an integral pressing arm 75, two integral side walls 76, and a plurality of clamping sheets 77 that engage respectively the retaining holes 34 in the base plate 3 and that are straight before assembly of the connector, as shown in FIG. 3. During assembly, the clamping sheets 77 are bent into an L-shape, thereby clamping the base plate 3 and the board 4 between the cover plate 7 and the clamping sheets 77. As such, the base plate 3 and the cover plate 7 are interconnected fixedly so as to confine the board 4 between the base plate 3 and the cover plate 7 and thereby preventing removal of the movable member 51 from the slide slot 321 in the plate 3, as shown in FIG. 4. The pressing arm 75 extends through a through hole 454 in the board 4, and is adapted to press the smart card 20 against the plate 3. When the smart card 20 is disposed at the retracted position, the pins 47 are positioned within the opening 72, thereby preventing electrical contact between the cover plate 7 and the pins 47. The cover plate 7 has a front side, which is formed with a trapezoid notch 711 at a middle portion thereof that is adjacent to the open front end (35F) of the groove 35 and that is aligned with the curved notch 315 in the base plate 3, thereby further facilitating the insertion of the smart card 20 into the groove 35.

[0025] The movable member 51 is formed with a pair of generally straight integral first and second resilient arms 515, 517, which extend respectively from the positioning element 511 and the sliding element 512. The card-ejecting device 5 further includes a coiled tension spring 53, a link rod 55, and a guide slot 57. The spring 53 is disposed between the movable member 51 and the base plate 3 for biasing the movable member 51 to move forward on the base plate 3. The link rod 55 is disposed between the first and second resilient arms 515, 517, and has a front end that is connected pivotally to the movable member 51, and a rear end with an integral sliding tongue 551 (see FIG. 6) that extends perpendicularly therefrom.

[0026] Referring to FIG. 6, the guide slot 57 is formed in the first side surface 30 of the base plate 3 for receiving the tongue 551 of the link rod 55 slidably therein, and has an annular slot portion and a longitudinal front slot portion 571. The annular slot portion includes a generally V-shaped rear slot portion 573, and a pair of generally straight left and right slot portions 575, 576. The longitudinal front slot portion 571 extends forward from a front end portion of the left slot portion 575, and has a closed front end 577. The left slot portion 575 extends rearward and leftward from a rear end of the longitudinal front slot portion 571. The generally V-shaped rear slot portion 573 extends rightward from a rear end of the left slot portion 575, and has a left end 578, a right end 579 that is generally in line with the longitudinal front slot portion 571, and a curved middle portion 580 that is located midway between and in front of the left and right ends 578, 579. The right slot portion 576 extends forwardly and rightward from the right end 579 of the rear slot portion 573 to the rear end of the longitudinal front slot portion 571.

[0027] The guiding action of the guide slot 57 and the biasing actions of the spring 53 and the first resilient arm 515 are described in the succeeding paragraphs.

[0028] Referring to FIGS. 5 and 9, when the movable member 51 is located at a first position, because the spring 53 is stretched so as to generate a restoration force that biases the movable member 51 forwardly, the tongue 551 is biased by the spring 53 to the curved middle portion 580. In this situation, the first resilient arm 515 is pressed by the link rod 55 to flex relative to the positioning element 511, and thus generates a restoration force that biases the tongue 551 to the right. When it is desired to eject the smart card 20, the front end 21 of the smart card 20 is pressed inwardly until the rear end 22 of the smart card 20 arrives at the rear end (35R) of the groove 35, i.e. a rear limit position of the smart card 20, thereby moving the tongue 551 to the right end 579 of the V-shaped rear slot portion 573 with the assistance of the flexed first resilient arm 515, as shown in FIG. 10. Thereafter, the smart card 20 is released so that the tongue 551 is pulled by the spring 53 to the right slot portion 576, as shown in FIG. 11, and subsequently to the closed front end 577 (see FIG. 6) of the longitudinal front slot portion 571, as shown in FIG. 6, in a direction shown by an arrowhead (A) in FIG. 6 by virtue of the biasing forces of the first resilient arm 515 and the spring 53. When the tongue 551 moves to the position shown in FIG. 6, the movable member 51 moves to a second position so that the smart card 20 is moved by the abutment portion 513 of the positioning element 511 to an extended position shown in FIG. 12, where the conductive plate 201 (see FIG. 12) is disconnected electrically from the pins 47 and where the first and second resilient arms 515, 517 abut respectively against two opposite sides of the link rod 55 with no pressure being applied thereby to the link rod 55. As such, the link rod 55 extends toward the junction between the longitudinal front slot portion 571 and the left slot portion 575. When the smart card 20 is located at the extended position shown in FIG. 12, it can be taken easily out from the electrical connector.

[0029] When it is desired to connect the smart card 20 electrically to the pins 47, the smart card 20 is inserted into the groove 35 until the rear end 22 of the smart card 20 contacts the abutment portion 513 of the positioning element 511. That is to say, the smart card 20 is placed at the extended position. Then, the smart card 20 is pressed inwardly from the extended position shown in FIG. 12 so as to move the tongue 551 into the left slot portion 575 in a direction shown by an arrowhead (B) in FIG. 6 by virtue of the guidance of the first and second resilient arms 515, 517. When the tongue 551 moves to the rear end of the left slot portion 575, as shown in FIG. 7, the first resilient arm 515 is pressed by the link rod 55 to flex relative to the positioning element 511 so as to generate a restoration force that biases the link rod 55 to rotate clockwise, thereby moving the tongue 551 to the left end 578 of the V-shaped rear slot portion 571, as shown in FIG. 8, in which the rear end 22 of the smart card 20 reaches the rear end (35R) of the groove 35, i.e. the rear limit position of the smart card 20, thereby preventing further rearward movement of the smart card 20 on the base plate 3. Subsequently, the smart card 20 is released so that the tongue 551 is moved by the spring 53 and the flexed first resilient arm 515 to the curved middle portion 580 of the V-shaped rear slot portion 573, as shown in FIG. 9.

[0030] As described above, in order to move the smart card 20 from one of the extended and retracted positions to the other one, the steps needed to be performed include only pressing the smart card 20 to its rear limit position and subsequently releasing the same. Accordingly, electrical connection and disconnection of the smart card 20 can be accomplished easily by means of the electrical connector of this invention.

[0031] With this invention thus explained, it is apparent that numerous modifications and variations can be made without departing the scope and spirit of this invention. It is therefore intended that this invention be limited only as indicated by the appended claims. 

I claim:
 1. An electrical connector adapted for insertion of a smart card therein, the smart card having a front end and a rear end, said electrical connector comprising: an elongated base plate having a first side surface, a front end, a rear end, a left side, a right side, and an accommodating groove that is formed in said first side surface of said base plate and that extends from said front end of said base plate to said rear end of said base plate, said groove having an open front end and a closed rear end and being adapted to receive the smart card therein in such a manner that the smart card is disposed at a retracted position, where the front end of the smart card extends from said open front end of said groove and where a space is present between the rear end of the smart card and said closed rear end of said groove; an integrated circuit board connected fixedly to said base plate and including a first side surface, a second side surface that is opposite to said first side surface of said integrated circuit board and that abuts against said first side surface of said base plate in such a manner that said base plate and said integrated circuit board are adapted to be disposed generally parallel to the smart card, a plurality of pin holes that are formed through said integrated circuit board, and a plurality of terminal pins that are fastened to said first side surface of said integrated circuit board, said terminal pins extending through said pin holes and projecting from said second side surface of said integrated circuit board so as to be adapted to connect electrically with the smart card when the smart card is disposed at the retracted position; and a card-ejecting device adapted to push the smart card outwardly relative to said groove to an extended portion in a longitudinal direction of said base plate when the front end of the smart card is pressed inwardly within said groove to move the rear end of the smart card to said closed rear end of said groove, and is subsequently released, said card-ejecting device including a slide slot formed in said right side of said base plate and extending along length of said base plate; a movable member, which is formed with an integral positioning element that is adapted to abut against the rear end of the smart card so as to move said movable member and the smart card synchronously when the smart card is pressed inwardly relative to said base plate, said movable member being retained at a first position, where the smart card is disposed at the retracted position, and being moved, when the front end of the smart card is pressed inwardly relative to said base plate to move the rear end of the smart card to said closed rear end of said groove and is subsequently released, to a second position, where the smart card is disposed at the extended position so as to disconnect electrically from said pins and where the front end of the smart card can be pressed inwardly once again relative to said base plate to move the rear end of the smart card to said closed rear end of said groove, and subsequently released, thereby biasing the smart card to the retracted position by means of said card-ejecting device, said movable member being disposed slidably within said slide slot and being slidable relative to said base plate in the longitudinal direction of said base plate, said movable member being formed with an integral first resilient arm; a spring disposed between said movable member and said base plate for biasing said movable member to move forward on said base plate; a link rod having a front end that is connected pivotally to said movable member, and a rear end with an integral tongue that extends perpendicularly therefrom, said first resilient arm of said movable member pressing against said link rod, thereby biasing said link rod to rotate in a predetermined direction; and a guide slot formed in said first side surface of said base plate for receiving said tongue of said link rod slidably therein, said guide slot having an annular slot portion and a longitudinal front slot portion that extends forward from a portion of said annular slot portion and that has a rear end, and a closed front end, said tongue of said link rod being biased by said spring to said front end of said longitudinal front slot portion when said movable member is located at said second position, said annular slot portion having a generally straight left slot portion extending rearward and leftward from said rear end of said longitudinal front slot portion and having a rear end, a generally V-shaped rear slot portion extending rightward from said rear end of said left slot portion and having a left end, a right end, and a curved middle portion that is located midway between and in front of said left and right ends, said tongue of said link rod being disposed at said curved middle portion when said movable member is located at said first position, and a generally straight right slot portion extending forwardly and rightward from said right end of said rear slot portion to said rear end of said longitudinal front slot portion, said tongue being movable from said curved middle portion of said V-shaped rear slot portion to said right end of said V-shaped rear slot portion by pressing inward the front end of the smart card so as to move the rear end of the smart card to said closed rear end of said groove, after which said tongue is biased, upon release of the smart card, by said spring and said first resilient arm to said front end of said longitudinal front slot portion via said right slot portion, said tongue being movable from said longitudinal front slot portion to said left end of said V-shaped rear slot portion via said left slot portion by pressing inward the front end of the smart card so as to move the rear end of the smart card to said closed rear end of said groove, after which said tongue is biased, upon release of the smart card, by said spring and said first resilient arm to said curved middle portion of said V-shaped rear slot portion.
 2. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein said movable member is made of metal, said positioning element being shaped as a plate, which is parallel to said base plate and which is formed with a pressed abutment portion that extends into said groove and that is adapted to abut against the rear end of the smart card.
 3. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein said movable member is formed with an integral second resilient arm, said first and second resilient arms abutting against two opposite sides of said link rod with no pressure being applied by said first and second resilient arms to said link rod when said movable member is disposed at said second position, in such a manner to direct said link rod toward a junction between said left slot portion and said longitudinal front slot portion, thereby guiding said tongue to move into said left slot portion when said movable member is moved from said second position to said first position.
 4. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 3, wherein said right end of said V-shaped rear slot portion is generally in line with said longitudinal front slot portion, whereby, when said tongue moves along said left slot portion, said first resilient arm flexes relative to said positioning element so as to generate a restoration force, which biases said tongue to move from said left end of said V-shaped rear slot portion to said curved middle portion of said V-shaped rear slot portion, and subsequently from said curved middle portion of said V-shaped rear slot portion to said right end of said V-shaped rear slot portion.
 5. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a cover plate, which is mounted fixedly on said base plate and which is parallel to said base plate so as to confine said integrated circuit board between said base plate and said cover plate, thereby preventing removal of said movable member from said slide slot in said base plate.
 6. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 5, wherein said integrated circuit board is formed with a plurality of positioning holes therethrough, said first side surface of said base plate being formed with a plurality of integral projections that engage respectively said positioning holes in said integrated circuit board, thereby positioning said integrated circuit board relative to said base plate.
 7. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 5, wherein said cover plate has a front side, which is formed with a trapezoid notch at a middle portion thereof that is adjacent to said open front end of said groove and that is adapted to facilitate insertion of the smart card into said groove.
 8. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 7, wherein said base plate is generally rectangular, and has two long sides and two short sides, said front end of said base plate having a curved notch formed in one of said short sides, which is aligned with said trapezoid notch in said cover plate, thereby further facilitating the insertion of the smart card into said groove.
 9. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 8, wherein said first side surface of said base plate has two inclined guiding faces, which are formed on said one of said short sides and which are located on two sides of said curved notch, thereby further facilitating the insertion of the smart card into said groove.
 10. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 5, wherein said base plate is formed with two aligned integral limiting elements, which extend respectively from said left and right sides toward each other and which define said open front end of said groove between said base plate and said limiting elements.
 11. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 5, wherein said integrated circuit board has a through hole that is formed therethrough, said cover plate being formed with an integral pressing arm that extends through said through hole in said integrated circuit board and that is adapted to press the smart card against said base plate.
 12. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 5, wherein said base plate is formed with a plurality of retaining holes along an outer periphery thereof, said cover plate being formed integrally with a plurality of L-shaped clamping sheets that engage respectively said retaining holes so as to clamp said base plate and said board between said cover plate and said clamping sheets, thereby interconnecting said base plate and said cover plate fixedly.
 13. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein said integrated circuit board includes a ribbon cable that is attached thereto and that is in electrical contact with said pins for data transmission. 